Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, on Tuesday declared that governance in the state must not stop or stagnate because of the forthcoming electioneering campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor made the declaration in his opening remarks at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, stressing that, “We must remain focused and on course to deliver our mandate to the people of Bauchi State who entrusted us with it.”
According to him, “We are gathered here once again to deliberate on matters of governance in this Chamber. As I welcome you all, I believe it is important that we examine our calendar with objective clarity. We are operating in the twilight of this administration, with the next elections approaching.
“However, this must not deter us from our responsibility to govern. While political activities across the state will naturally intensify, our primary allegiance remains to the people and the governance of Bauchi State. We must not allow the forthcoming election to distract us from our official responsibilities or slow down the machinery of government.”
He added, “We must remain conscious of our budget performance and the need to take decisive actions as we prepare to conclude our tenure next year. Next year is still several months away, and the election does not mark the end of our administration. Rather, this is the period when our focus must be doubled, not diminished.
“The temptation during political transition periods is to shift all our energy towards campaigns. But we must remember that the ultimate campaign is the legacy we leave behind.
“Our broader development agenda must be brought to a conclusive stage. This Council must remain a centre for rigorous policy formulation, effective implementation and meaningful public service reforms, completely separate from the noise of electioneering and political campaigns.”
The governor added, “Time is of the essence. We cannot afford bureaucratic delays or a lackadaisical attitude to our responsibilities. Every ongoing capital project, from critical road networks to healthcare, education and agricultural interventions, must be accelerated towards completion with urgency, precision and a strong sense of responsibility.
“Furthermore, as the political temperature rises, our commitment to public procurement regulations, financial regulations, stores regulations and accountability must remain firm and uncompromising. We must leave behind an administration defined by transparency and accountability, not one characterised by last-minute lapses in due process.”
Mohammed added, “We must not lose sight of our purpose. Elections can heighten anxiety and tension, and we must take proactive steps to safeguard the peace and security of our state.
“Our successful collaboration with security agencies has helped restore peace in our communities. Our people can now return to their farms, send their children to school and live with greater security and peace of mind.”
He further said, “As we approach the election cycle, I charge this Council and our security apparatus to remain highly vigilant. We will continue to support our security agencies by renovating their accommodation, providing operational vehicles and making funds available for fuel and other essential operational needs.”
He declared, “We must not lose focus, and we must not compromise the impartiality of our security agencies. We will tolerate no breach of peace, no political thuggery and no disruption of the stability of our dear state.
“History remembers how an administration finishes, not merely how it begins. Let us use these remaining months to consolidate our achievements, secure our legacy and demonstrate to the people of Bauchi State that the mandate entrusted to us was placed in capable, committed and determined hands.”
He further declared, “We must remain dedicated to our responsibilities until the very last day of our tenure. Legacies are not established through self-adulation or self-praise. It is the record of our service and the history we leave behind that will ultimately determine whether we have created a lasting legacy.
“Therefore, we must remain focused and committed, as though we are not going anywhere, while equally recognising that our tenure will eventually come to an end.
“We must adopt this balanced approach as public servants, remaining impartial and loyal to the projects, programmes and policies entrusted to us as commissioners and heads of ministries, departments and agencies.”
The governor concluded, “Today, we will also consider policy issues because governance is a continuum. It is dynamic and requires constant attention, adjustment and improvement. We must therefore continue to work with that understanding.
“I thank you all for your commitment and continued service.
“May God bless Bauchi State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God continue to guide and protect us all.
“Thank you very much.”
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